Same! I love both the reality and imagery of that human chain, and I’m using the mail campaign as an excuse to buy some cute stationary from a local store. 🙌
For weeks I have been thinking about sending mail and making phone calls to my senators and representatives. I will add the White House to the list and start TODAY.
I’m so sorry I had to miss the call. It sounds like a great conversation with like minded people. We really need community to help us through this time. Thank you for being speaking up and speaking out it is so important now.
My response to your overtly progressive - not biblical - original column was never intended to change your mind. It was simply to point out your blatant one-sided political perspective. You won’t change my mind and I care not to change yours.
As for you being radicalized by your faith, have you given thought to the Holy Book’s guidance when it comes to governments? Romans 13:1-14. We are admonished to “be subject to the governing authorities.” How are you and your fellow progressives in this county living up to this admonition when you apparently care not that multiple millions of foreigners broke - with your approval - US laws (passed by our “governing authorities”) by entering this country illegally?
And, if you were truly concerned about your fellow man, wouldn’t you also write about the thousands of your fellow American citizens accosted, raped, beaten, robbed and murdered by illegal aliens. Oh, no, that doesn’t fit your brand of advocating for the forgotten, overlooked and mistreated. Only foreigners - not US citizens.
I only hope the man (here illegally?) “compassionate” people in Nashville “rescued” from authorities hadn’t committed a crime against a US citizen. If he had, it could have been against someone you “loved.”
Hi, Dean. Thanks for reading and commenting. No one wants violent criminals on the streets! If this gentleman has committed a crime, I’m sure ICE will have no problem securing the necessary court documents signed by a judge, and justice can be served through due process. As it stands, our government is deporting many people who have *not* been charged with a crime. According to several news sources (this is from NBC, article linked below), of the 238 men sent to CECOT:
“At least 22% of the men on the list have criminal records here in the United States or abroad. The vast majority are for non-violent offenses like theft, shoplifting and trespassing. About a dozen are accused of murder, rape, assault and kidnapping.
For 3% of those deported, it is unclear whether a criminal record exists.
But we could not find criminal records for 75% of the Venezuelans - 179 men- now sitting in prison.”
That seems like a horrific injustice to me, and something that should concern us all. If ICE can disappear an innocent Venezuelan man, what’s stopping them from disappearing you? Due process is an absolutely essential part of the America I know and love.
Criminal record? My gosh, their mere presence in the United States means they’ve broken our laws. And, your support for them and not the hundreds of millions of American law abiding citizens - who are far too often the victims of their brutality and forced to pay for their health care, education and living expenses - clearly shows your allegiance. What an American you are.
Your, and your progressive friends, new term “disappearing” law breakers is a wholly made up lie. Those already deported have not disappeared. We, our government, know exactly where they are. As for my government disappearing me - you should be ashamed of using those words which are nothing but an attempt to strike fear into innocent hearts. Your “what if” is hollow.
Your blatant personal hatred for our President colors your entire narrative. I’m sorry for you. Conservatives disliked Joe Biden's policies. But, never did we see the personal vitriol such as evidenced in your writing. Oh, and your not alone.
Hi, Dean. It’s becoming increasingly clear that there is nothing I can say that might change your mind, and it’s a waste of both our time to try. I guess I’ve been “radicalized” by my faith and the 400+ Bible verses about welcoming the immigrant, and I will never be ashamed about advocating for the forgotten, overlooked, and mistreated. I wish you well.
Does it not make us uncomfortable that "loving your neighbor" in the story about ICE in Nashville is also a story about a group of citizens aiding and abetting someone resisting arrest? If ICE has a judicial warrant, signed by a judge (it wasn't clear to me from the story whether or not that was the case) then doing what these people did constitutes criminal activity. I am appalled by some of the unlawful actions ICE has taken in recent days/weeks, but that is not license to impede their lawful duties either.
Hi, Kenneth. Thanks for reading and commenting. It’s my understanding that ICE did not have a warrant signed by a judge. Presumably, if they did, local law enforcement (who were present) would have helped facilitate the arrest. I guess the deeper issue for me is the fact that ICE agents and the federal government are breaking the law and defying court orders by detaining and deporting people without due process. My relatives hid Jews during the holocaust (also illegal), and we tell those stories with great pride… I hope that if I saw a great injustice being carried out I would have the courage to protect my neighbor.
Thank you for this clarification. I think I am more uncomfortable with the reporting in that story than I am with the story itself. While ICE has largely lost its authority and respect in my view, I still respect the authority of the justice system. So when reading a story like this, my value judgement depends so much on that detail of whether a judge signed a warrant. It is poor reporting to leave out that important detail, but CNN did a better job: https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/22/us/nashville-neighbors-help-prevent-ice-arrest/index.html
That article clarifies that ICE was serving an administrative warrant, not signed by a judge (as you said). That makes me feel better, but I still believe this story should make us uncomfortable. Any story in which the right thing is unlawful should make us uncomfortable. Hiding Jews is a cherished story when it's safely stowed in history books and family lore, but at that time "uncomfortable" would have been an understatement.
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I understand where you’re coming from, and have no desire to disregard the rule of law. I worry the concept of “lawfulness” and “lawlessness” is being grossly distorted by this administration… When the government ignores the rule of law, it puts us all on shaky ground.
What a lovely little read!! ❤️
The positive ICE story gives me so much hope! I also love the idea of burying this administration is physical mail...I'll be doing this!
Same! I love both the reality and imagery of that human chain, and I’m using the mail campaign as an excuse to buy some cute stationary from a local store. 🙌
Love this….
Thanks, Julie!
Lot of things to think about.
I’m saving the ending prayer.
For weeks I have been thinking about sending mail and making phone calls to my senators and representatives. I will add the White House to the list and start TODAY.
Yay! I’m so glad you found a couple things to hold on to here.
I’m so sorry I had to miss the call. It sounds like a great conversation with like minded people. We really need community to help us through this time. Thank you for being speaking up and speaking out it is so important now.
We’ll do it again! I’m hoping to make it a monthly thing.
Nicole:
My response to your overtly progressive - not biblical - original column was never intended to change your mind. It was simply to point out your blatant one-sided political perspective. You won’t change my mind and I care not to change yours.
As for you being radicalized by your faith, have you given thought to the Holy Book’s guidance when it comes to governments? Romans 13:1-14. We are admonished to “be subject to the governing authorities.” How are you and your fellow progressives in this county living up to this admonition when you apparently care not that multiple millions of foreigners broke - with your approval - US laws (passed by our “governing authorities”) by entering this country illegally?
And, if you were truly concerned about your fellow man, wouldn’t you also write about the thousands of your fellow American citizens accosted, raped, beaten, robbed and murdered by illegal aliens. Oh, no, that doesn’t fit your brand of advocating for the forgotten, overlooked and mistreated. Only foreigners - not US citizens.
Respectfully,
Dean Weitenhagen
Okay. Thanks for reading This Stays Here!
I only hope the man (here illegally?) “compassionate” people in Nashville “rescued” from authorities hadn’t committed a crime against a US citizen. If he had, it could have been against someone you “loved.”
Hi, Dean. Thanks for reading and commenting. No one wants violent criminals on the streets! If this gentleman has committed a crime, I’m sure ICE will have no problem securing the necessary court documents signed by a judge, and justice can be served through due process. As it stands, our government is deporting many people who have *not* been charged with a crime. According to several news sources (this is from NBC, article linked below), of the 238 men sent to CECOT:
“At least 22% of the men on the list have criminal records here in the United States or abroad. The vast majority are for non-violent offenses like theft, shoplifting and trespassing. About a dozen are accused of murder, rape, assault and kidnapping.
For 3% of those deported, it is unclear whether a criminal record exists.
But we could not find criminal records for 75% of the Venezuelans - 179 men- now sitting in prison.”
That seems like a horrific injustice to me, and something that should concern us all. If ICE can disappear an innocent Venezuelan man, what’s stopping them from disappearing you? Due process is an absolutely essential part of the America I know and love.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-records-show-about-migrants-sent-to-salvadoran-prison-60-minutes-transcript/
Criminal record? My gosh, their mere presence in the United States means they’ve broken our laws. And, your support for them and not the hundreds of millions of American law abiding citizens - who are far too often the victims of their brutality and forced to pay for their health care, education and living expenses - clearly shows your allegiance. What an American you are.
Your, and your progressive friends, new term “disappearing” law breakers is a wholly made up lie. Those already deported have not disappeared. We, our government, know exactly where they are. As for my government disappearing me - you should be ashamed of using those words which are nothing but an attempt to strike fear into innocent hearts. Your “what if” is hollow.
Your blatant personal hatred for our President colors your entire narrative. I’m sorry for you. Conservatives disliked Joe Biden's policies. But, never did we see the personal vitriol such as evidenced in your writing. Oh, and your not alone.
Hi, Dean. It’s becoming increasingly clear that there is nothing I can say that might change your mind, and it’s a waste of both our time to try. I guess I’ve been “radicalized” by my faith and the 400+ Bible verses about welcoming the immigrant, and I will never be ashamed about advocating for the forgotten, overlooked, and mistreated. I wish you well.
Does it not make us uncomfortable that "loving your neighbor" in the story about ICE in Nashville is also a story about a group of citizens aiding and abetting someone resisting arrest? If ICE has a judicial warrant, signed by a judge (it wasn't clear to me from the story whether or not that was the case) then doing what these people did constitutes criminal activity. I am appalled by some of the unlawful actions ICE has taken in recent days/weeks, but that is not license to impede their lawful duties either.
Hi, Kenneth. Thanks for reading and commenting. It’s my understanding that ICE did not have a warrant signed by a judge. Presumably, if they did, local law enforcement (who were present) would have helped facilitate the arrest. I guess the deeper issue for me is the fact that ICE agents and the federal government are breaking the law and defying court orders by detaining and deporting people without due process. My relatives hid Jews during the holocaust (also illegal), and we tell those stories with great pride… I hope that if I saw a great injustice being carried out I would have the courage to protect my neighbor.
Thank you for this clarification. I think I am more uncomfortable with the reporting in that story than I am with the story itself. While ICE has largely lost its authority and respect in my view, I still respect the authority of the justice system. So when reading a story like this, my value judgement depends so much on that detail of whether a judge signed a warrant. It is poor reporting to leave out that important detail, but CNN did a better job: https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/22/us/nashville-neighbors-help-prevent-ice-arrest/index.html
That article clarifies that ICE was serving an administrative warrant, not signed by a judge (as you said). That makes me feel better, but I still believe this story should make us uncomfortable. Any story in which the right thing is unlawful should make us uncomfortable. Hiding Jews is a cherished story when it's safely stowed in history books and family lore, but at that time "uncomfortable" would have been an understatement.
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I understand where you’re coming from, and have no desire to disregard the rule of law. I worry the concept of “lawfulness” and “lawlessness” is being grossly distorted by this administration… When the government ignores the rule of law, it puts us all on shaky ground.